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Après que takes the indicative: French timelines at a glance

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

See which action comes first with après que, compare past and future sequences, and choose between a full clause and après avoir or après être.

In short

In standard written French, après que takes the indicative: Après que Nora a terminé, nous avons commencé. Nora finishes first; we start afterwards. Use a full subject and verb after que.

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Two colleagues taking turns to speak at a meeting.
Lina takes her turn apr’s que Nora has finished. Illustration: Atelier

Après que · l’ordre des actions

1 · Find the earlier event

The clause after après que names the first event, wherever it sits in the sentence.

Nous avons commencé après que Nora a terminé.We started after Nora finished.

Après que Nora a terminé, nous avons commencé.After Nora finished, we started.

2 · Use the indicative in standard writing

For a completed past event, the passé composé gives a clear model. The auxiliary is indicative: a, ont, est, sont.

Nous avons poursuivi la discussion après que les autres sont partis.We continued the discussion after the others left.

3 · A future sequence can use the future perfect

The earlier action will be complete before the later one. English often uses a present form where French uses the future perfect.

Nous commencerons après que Nora aura terminé.We’ll start after Nora has finished.

Je te répondrai après que j’aurai relu ton message.I’ll reply after I’ve reread your message.

4 · Compare avant que

Avant que takes the subjunctive. Keep the connector and the mood together.

Je lui ai parlé avant qu’elle parte.I spoke to her before she left.

Je lui ai écrit après qu’elle est partie.I wrote to her after she left.

5 · Shorten with a past infinitive when the actor is shared

Use après avoir or après être + past participle when the same person does both actions.

Après avoir terminé, Nora a appelé Lina.After finishing, Nora called Lina.

Après être arrivée, Lina a appelé Nora.After arriving, Lina called Nora.

Read the time, not the position on the page

Two ways to describe the same order
SentenceFirstThen
Nora a répondu après que Lina a appelé.Lina calls.Nora replies.
Après que Lina a appelé, Nora a répondu.Lina calls.Nora replies.
Nora répondra après que Lina aura appelé.Lina will call.Nora will reply.

The future example shows why après que also works for events ahead of us. The key relationship is “first this, then that”. The indicative is the standard pattern after the connector.

You will also hear the subjunctive after après que in contemporary French. For the written pattern practised here, keep the indicative. A shorter shared-subject version is often convenient: Je te répondrai après avoir relu ton message.

Après que Nora a terminé, Lina a pris la parole.

After Nora finished, Lina spoke.

Two different people: the full clause names Nora explicitly.

Question 1No account needed
Choose the standard written form.Nous avons repris la discussion après qu’elle ___ partie.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

est. After après que, the indicative gives elle est partie.

Question 2No account needed
Complete the earlier future action.Nous commencerons après que Nora ___ terminé.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

aura. The future perfect aura terminé places Nora’s finishing before the future start.

Question 3No account needed
Who has finished in this sentence?Après avoir terminé, Lina a appelé Nora.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Lina.. The understood subject of avoir terminé is the main subject, Lina.

Question 4No account needed
Which conjunction fits the subjunctive model?Je lui ai parlé ___ son frère parte.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

avant que. Avant que takes the subjunctive: avant que son frère parte.

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